Einstruction

eInstruction designs, manufactures and markets teaching and assessment tools. It is based in the United States.

History

eInstruction was founded in 1981 by university computer science professor Dr. Darrell Ward.^[1] In 2000, Dr. Ward and his team pioneered the use of student response systems in education,^[2] with the creation of a hand-held "clicker" system called CPS (Classroom Performance System). In addition to CPS, and other interactive classroom technologies, eInstruction works with educators providing professional development and training opportunities across the globe.

Company locations

eInstruction has offices in Denton, Texas; Scottsdale, Arizona; Fort Wright, Kentucky; and Paris, France.

Products timeline

2000 - 2012: Classroom Performance System (CPS)

eInstruction introduced the first wireless student response system designed to help educators engage and involve students, while providing real-time feedback on what the students know or don't know, which in turn allows educators to identify students who need extra help and track student performance and achievement over time.

In early 2000, eInstruction modified their "Group Link" IR student response system enabling it to support up to 32 IR response pads and coupled it with The Classroom Performance System (CPS) software package. CPS was the 2nd version of a classroom based software package named HyperVision (based on the company's initial name - HyperGraphics). HyperVision was based on an authoring software package called TBT Author constructed in the early days of HyperGraphics.

2000 - Present: The eC Model

In 2000, eInstruction created what was to become the most successful and coveted sales group in K-12 education. The model was based on two main concepts: 1) allow sales people to create their own groups or franchises and 2) do not cap their earning potential. Allowing eC's (educational consultants) to create organizations grew the eInstruction sales team to over 500 persons by 2005. Not capping an eC's earning potential unleashed the entrepreneurial spirit which when coupled with CPS gave eCs the ability to create wealth for themselves and their families. This model proved to be one of the key factors in the growth of eInstruction.

2003: CPS Chalkboard

GTCO Calcomp (acquired as part of Interwrite Learning by eInstruction in 2008) introduced the first hand-held bluetooth tablet. The problem with most wireless tablets was in managing the bluetooth connection. In 2003 eInstruction built the first plug-n-play wireless tablet called "The CPS Chalkboard" using the standard 802.11 wirless protocol. It dramatically simplied the usability of wireless tablets over bluetooth tablets. In 2007 eInstruction designed what later became the MOBI, which was released in 2009. The company was awarded a U.S. patent for its mobile interactive whiteboard in 2005.

2006: Examview

FS Creations (acquired by eInstruction in 2006) created the Examview test bank and test printing solution package. Examview includes a format for digitally creating and managing assessment questions which can now be found in the teachers' editions of over 6,200 titles throughout US K–12 and higher education textbooks. The Examview Assessment Suite includes a Test Generator module for creating assessments, quizzes, study guides, and worksheets; a Test Manager module for collecting and reporting test results; and a Test Player module that lets students take tests and view study guides over a school network. The Learning Series, a proprietary question bank for K–12, adds more than 14,000 independently reviewed topic- and state-standards-aligned questions. Together, CPS and Examview offered a platform which is intended to help educators to incorporate textbook publisher question banks into their lesson plans, quizzes, and tests, and allows for real-time assessment and feedback.

eInstruction Timeline

2000 - 2009: CPS Response Systems

In the 1990s eInstruction initially sold an RF response system manufactured by Fleetwood Corporation (located in Holland MI). eInstruction did not sell many of the Fleetwood manufactured systems because they were expensive per classroom and because most classrooms did not yet have teacher computers and projectors.

During the late 1990s, eInstruction also began to developed its own student response systems that were infred (IR) instead of radio frequency (RF). Due to the 100 millisecond IR signal that the system was based on, only 6 student response units could be used in a classroom at a time without "collisions" - the event where multiple IR signals hit the IR receiver at the same time.

In 1999, eInstruction modified their IR signal to reduce the IR packet size from 100 milliseconds to the 32 millisecond range. This modification allowed the response system receiver to receive up to 32 student responses without collisions. In 2003 eInstruction partnered with Fleetwood to build a radio frequency (RF) version of their highly popular IR student response system for the K-12 marketplace. In 2004 Fleetwood built for eInstruction an RF response system specifically for the higher education market. Before selling the company in 2007, 6 of the top 10 universities as well as hundreds of other universities had standardized on the eInstruction "clicker" system. Over the years eInstruction brought out various versions of their RF response system culminating with the CPS Pulse response system which is the company's latest version of its student response system.

2009: eInstruction MOBI

eInstruction's MOBI is the latest version of the company's mobile interactive whiteboard tablet (originally called the CPS Chalkboard). The new MOBI features an innovative "Know-What-I-Know" LCD screen that was originally designed by Dr. Ward's team before leaving eInstruction in 2008. It allows teachers to instantly view student responses on the screen when used in conjunction with student response systems.

2009: eInstruction DualBoard

eInstruction DualBoard was the first interactive whiteboard to allow two or more students to work at the board simultaneously.

2009: eInstruction vClicker MOBILE EDITION

vClicker MOBILE EDITION turns any computer, smartphone or web-enabled mobile device into a "virtual" student response device, allowing students in 1-to-1 classrooms or online from remote locations to participate in real-time interactive activities and assessments.

2006 - 2009: eI Community

The eI Community originally named Share - is an online resource center open to all, where teachers can find and share educational resources and discuss best practices together.

2009: eI Cornerstone Education Suite

eI Cornerstone Education Suite was launched and deployed in pilot sites in various K–12 school districts. Cornerstone (originally named REAP - Real-time Evaluation of Academic Progress) was an enterprise-based administrator tool that allows administrators to monitor and analyze student performance data, distribute content and assessments, and centrally manage a district's eInstruction technology.^[3] It provides principals, superintendents, curriculum directors, and technology and assessment coordinators with a direct, real-time link to student and classroom performance on a district scale.

Awards

• CPS was the 2005 winner of the Award of Excellence by Technology & Learning. "Technology & Learning". Retrieved March 5, 2005. 
• CPS was the Media & Methods portfolio winner in 2005. "Media & Methods". Retrieved February 15, 2005. 
• CPS was the 2006 Technology Leadership Award winner by AOL@School. "The Association of Educational Publishers". Retrieved 2006.  Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• CPS was the 2007 winner of the Award of Excellence by Technology & Learning. "Technology & Learning". Retrieved March 5, 2007. 
• CPS was the 2008 Teacher's Choice Award winner by Learning Magazine. "Teacher's Choice Award". Retrieved March 5, 2008. 
• CPS was the 2009 winner of the Award of Excellence by Technology & Learning. "Technology & Learning". Retrieved March 5, 2009. 
• CPS was the 2009 winner of the Best in Technology by Scholastic Administrator. "Test in TECH 2009". Retrieved March 5, 2009. 
• CPS was the 2009 Teacher's Choice Award winner by Learning Magazine. "Teacher's Choice Award". Retrieved March 5, 2009. 
• The eInstruction MOBI and INTERWRITEWORKSPACE software both earned a 2010 Teachers' Choice Award from Learning magazine. "Learning Magazine". Retrieved March 5, 2010. 
• The eInstruction MOBI was honored with a 2009 Award of Excellence as Best New Product from Tech & Learning magazine. "December Awards issue". Tech & Learning Magazine. Retrieved March 5, 2010. 
• INTERWRITEWORKSPACE was also selected for a 2009 Best in Tech Award from Scholastic Administrator magazine. "Scholastic Administrator Magazine". Retrieved March 5, 2010. 

References

External links

• eInstruction's (US) Website
• eInstruction's eI Community Portal
• eInstruction's (EU) Website